I think I don’t have to explain to you, fans of Korean drama/movies, what is this thing called Korean Wave or Hallyu. Briefly it’s the phenomenon of Korean pop culture that’s making it’s presence felt internationally, especially in the field of Korean drama and movies. And what are making the most waves in the Korean Wave that’s hit the world by storm?. They are the increasingly popular Korean TV dramas, such as Winter Sonata, Autumn in My Heart, All In and Daejangeum. Unlike other Asian movies, Korean movies reflect people's lives and emotions more directly. They also show the distinctiveness of Korean culture in a manner that has never been seen before, with commitment to family values and minimal sex. That is why Korean dramas/movies are gaining popularity outside of Korea. They have been internationally acclaimed for their artistry and creativity in this field as can be seen by the number of awards they have won at international film festivals like the Cannes International Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Fukuoka International Film Festival, and the Tokyo International Film Festival.”
Before I take you to visit the sets I would like to mention about this beautiful place in Sangsu-dong, Seoul, a drama exhibition hall called Four Season House. Although it doesn’t qualify as a filming location, you should visit it because it displays materials, props, and pictures from Director Yoon Seok-Ho’s four-part seasonal dramas, Autumn in my Heart, Winter Sonata, Summer Scent and Spring Waltz, in an exhibition hall designed much like a theme park. On the first floor, visitors will be able to see the sets, scenes, and props from Autumn in My Heart and Spring Waltz, while enjoying the dramas’ soundtrack music. In the basement, the sets and props from ‘Winter Sonata’ are on display. In the garden, the propose room set of Summer Scent, Winter Sonata’s Namiseom bench set have been reproduced, and ‘Spring Waltz’s’ pink truck is also on display. If you have seen all these four dramas then you will love this place as it will bring back many pleasant memories from the dramas.
What is your favorite Korean drama? I know mine started with Winter Sonata which also happens to be the #1 Korean drama in Japan. To start off our tour of Winter Sonata’s filming locations we’ll visit the high school in Chuncheon, where the drama began. While in Chuncheon we can visit the Winter Sonata Café where there are clips from the show, souvenirs, and pictures of the cast. The famous Polaris necklace is also for sale here. Perhaps you might like to try the former style lunch box of rice, kimchi and an assortment of other foods. After that we can visit the famous shopping street in Chuncheon where the lovers promised to meet each other on New Year's Eve. Yu-jin waited outside in the cold not realizing that Jun-sang was in a car accident. Close proximity to Seoul makes Chuncheon a popular daytrip destination and it is always crowded whether it’s on a weekday or a weekend.
Of course we mustn’t forget about Gongjicheon (the road with the white fence) where the lovers got off the bus together after they realized that they had missed their stop. They return to the same location 10 years later in a retrospective journey. Then we’ll make our way to Namiseom, and Jungdo Island. I’m sure I need not remind you about the famous scene of Yu-jin walking on the log while holding Jun-sang’s hand. The log is no longer there as it is already broken due to the large number of tourists who tried to recreate this scene from the drama. Remember how they strolled slowly down the red-wood lined road hand in hand and also the bicycle rides they had. Then in winter they had their first kiss there after they had made little snowmen on the table. It sounds so romantic doesn’t it?
To get to our next destination, the Yongpyong Resort, located on the ridge of Mt.Balwangsan we have to travel about 215km out of Seoul. But with the construction of a 4-lane highway, the travel time has been shortened to 2 hours. Once there you have to visit the Café Cheoeum where the lovers had a meal and the western style restaurant Chalet, where Jun-Sang had his fortune read through tarot cards. Or even better still, stay in the rooms occupied by Yu-jin and Jun-Sang (room numbers 910 and 920) at the YongPyong condominium. But then special reservations have to be made and needless to say can be quite pricey!
The last scene of Winter Sonata was shot at the house that Min-hyeong built for Yu-jin in European-like Oedo Island which is very picturesque. The house is still there. In April, the island is covered with flowers. The Venus Garden displays twelve sculptures and a western-style garden. At Paradise Lounge, one can enjoy the sunshine and the sea while having drinks. Camellias and various kinds of rare flowers from all over the world can be found here.
Oedo Paradise Island is without a doubt, a true paradise. Don’t miss the chance to see it if you can, it’s worth it. There’s an Oedo Island & Mt. Deogyusan Weekend trip available if you are interested. So that wraps up our visit to Winter Sonata’s filming locations. Which was your favorite place? Was it Namiseom Island or the Yongpyong Resort? Of course it would be better to go during winter time to really feel the true atmosphere of the place.
Another drama which became a hit after it was screened was Stairway to Heaven. Did you all see this drama? It was such a sad story, I never cried so much in my whole life. All the shooting locations were in Seoul except for the ‘piano playing’ scene on the beach which was on the island of Muuido. There was nothing exceptional about the sets, the drama was shot amidst the local scenery and yet it was such a success. I’m sure that you can recognize the carousel and castle from the Magic Island, the outdoor theme park at Lotte World. The same can be said of Jeong-soo’s shop at Namdaemun Market, and Song-ju’s store at the Save Zone shopping mall. Or perhaps you would like to try out the Café PASCUCCI on Rodeo Drive in Apgujeong-dong where Han Yu-ri and her mother Tae Mi-ra were always plotting some evil scheme. So it goes to prove that it is unnecessary to have lavish screen sets in order to produce box office dramas as can be clearly seen in this case. What’s more important is the story line and a star studded cast. Agreed?
Daejanggeum was filmed in numerous locations throughout the country, from Seoul to Jeju Island. Here are the major locations, which are already existing popular tourist destinations; we’ll start off with Seoul and its vicinity first before going to Jeju Island.
Seoul and its Vicinity
Changdeokgung Palace has been designated by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site. The scenes depicting the processions of King Yeonsangun and King Jungjong, the scene where King Jungjong is prevented from entering the residence of his son Gyeongwondaegun, and the episodes where King Jungjong walks and talks with Jang-geum were all filmed here.
Korean Folk Village
Set in a natural environment occupying approximately 243 acres, visitors can experience the natural atmosphere with over 260 traditional houses reminiscent of the late Joseon Dynasty, including various household goods from different regions. All these features have been relocated and restored to provide visitors with a broad understanding of Korean food, clothing, and housing style of the past. About twenty workshops, various handicrafts such as pottery, baskets, winnows, bamboo wares, wooden wares, paper, brass wares, knots, fans, musical instruments, iron wares and embroidery are practiced. In the Korean Folk Village, where the customs and lifestyles of the past generations have been carefully preserved, various lifestyles prevalent during the Joseon Dynasty can be seen.
The episode where Jang-geum gave birth to her son and where she took care of smallpox patients in a village and several other scenes were shot here. The famous movie Scandal starring Bae Yong Jun was also filmed here.
The Hwaseong Haenggung Palace was a temporary palace where the king sought refuge during war and found rest during times of peace. It was the largest of all temporary palaces in Korea, used by King Jeongjo and the kings who followed. Scenes of little Jang-geum undergoing training at the palace, the cooking competition, the training of women doctors and Naeuiwon (medical facility in the palace) scenes in the latter episodes, and many others were filmed here.
Why not make a day trip to Gyeonggi-do and visit both the Korean Folk Village and the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace?
Jeju-do Island
Jeju Folk Village located at Jeju Namjeju-gun Pyoseon-myun, has preserved the Korean tradition well. With its vast amount of cultural property, this place is designated as a Folk Village. Many cultural properties such as residential houses, Confucian shrines and schools, ancient government offices, stone statues, millstones (run by horse or ox), fortress ruins, and stone monuments, and intangible cultural assets such as folk plays, native foods, local folk craftsmanship, and the local dialect are handed down to date. The several-hundred-year-old zelkova trees and nettle trees standing in the middle of the village are designated as natural monuments. Namjeju-gun Pyoseon-myun is also famous for its white sandy beaches.
Many of the scenes in which Jang-geum learns medicine as a maidservant for the Jeju local government were filmed here. A Daejanggeum Mini-Theme Park has also been created in the Jeju Folk Village Museum where there’s an independent Daejanggeum exhibition hall, with introductions of the cast and drama offered in Japanese and Chinese.
Hyeopjae Beach
Famous for its jade-colored waters, Hyeopjae Beach was the location for several scenes from .Daejanggeum. The scene in which Min Jung-ho looks out to sea as Jang-geum leaves by boat and the scene in which Jang-geum runs towards her cottage residence were shot here.
Oedolgae A site offering a spectacular view, Oedolgae is one of the most visited tourist sites on Jeju Island The scene where, Jang-geum stands alone on a precipice looking out to the sea in firm resolution was filmed here.
Jeju Jinjigul Cave is actually man-made.
In the last episode Jang-geum found a woman in labor inside the cave. She performed an operation that saved both the woman and her child here.
Seongeup-ri Ranch Area in Namjeju-gun Many of the scenes were filmed on an open range located in Seongeup-ri, Pyoseong-myeon, Namjeju-gun. Filmed here were scenes of Jang-geum carrying the dying Courtier Han on her back and later burying her. This is also where Jang-geum is taken by a military guard to a place of exile on the island. Other scenes shot here were Jang-geum going back to search for Lady Han’s grave, and erecting a tombstone.
While you are in Jeju you might as well kill a few birds with one stone by visiting the sets of some other dramas like Taewangsasingi, All In and Summer Scent.
Park Southernland is a set built jointly by Jeju Island and the production company of Taewangsasingi (Legend). It is a 20,000-pyeong-site set within Jeju Island’s Myosanbong Tourist District. It is a massive set that cost over 13 billion won to build. The set has a king’s palace, which is a major filming location for Taewangsasingi (Legend), a king’s office and bedroom, gaekjan (an old-fashioned restaurant serving food and drinks), shops and markets and ordinary houses. Among these, the marketplace and the residence of Yeon Ga-ryeo, Goguryeo’s highest nobleman, are the most eye-catching. They aptly display the prosperity and lavishness of the Goguryeo Kingdom. The outdoor sets are currently open to the public, though the indoor sets are closed. After the filming of Taewangsasingi (Legend) was completed, the site was used to film Full House 2.
Naju Shamhanji Theme Park (a 5hr boat trip from Jeju) is a place where many scenes of the Buyeo Kingdom, including Buyeogung Palace, an ironware factory and downtown area, were filmed for Jumong, a hit drama that was recently televised. Built on a 450,000-pyeong site, the large-scale set cost over 18 billion won to create and was also used to film Taewangsasingi (Legend). Both the famous scenes featuring Dam-deok, as a child, visiting an old lady at a natural dye plant, trying his hand at dyeing, and then playing a soldier-like Dam-deok riding a horse through a vast field were filmed here.
Other filming location sites (not in Jeju) used by Taewangsasing were Goguryeo Blacksmith Village, Guri, Anmyeondo Island Open Set, and Wando Sosepo Open Set.
Goguryeo Blacksmith Village, Guri
Scenes of the daily life of Goguryeo citizens were filmed here, including scenes of the blacksmith village. Once the filming of Taewangsasingi (Legend) was completed, it was transformed into Korea’s first Goguryeo Folk Village. An exhibition hall displaying ancient ironware culture was built. The site has since been open to the public , once filming was completed. Anmyeondo Island Open Set in Nudong-ri, Gonam-myeon, Taean-gun houses military tents for field operations led by the great King Gwanggaeto. The place was used mainly to film glorious battle scenes of Goguryeo armored warriors bravely riding horses were filmed here.
The new, tough image of Dam-deok, who appeared rather gentle at the beginning of the drama, attracted attention. In particular, a spectacular battle scene from the final episode was filmed at Anmyeondo. Computer graphics as well as about 1,000 extras created a fantastic scene. Wando Sosepo Open Set is where scenes of a shipyard that built ships during the years of the great King Gwanggaeto were filmed. A 16,000-pyeong site houses a variety of sets, including a dock, ships, inns, and military quarters
Jeju Island was also home to the set of “All In”. The International Convention Center Jeju located in Jungmun Resort was designed in grand style and acted as Kim In-ha’s office in the drama. His office was located on the second floor with large glass windows offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape as well as his rival's hotel, the Hyatt Regency. This area is now used as a restaurant.
The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Jeju transforms into the Sea World Hotel. The ambitious Choi Do-hwan, played by actor Lee Deok-hwa, runs the Sea World Hotel and Casino along with his son Jeong-won, played by Jiseong. The presidential suite on the 11th floor is a place for making deals and for Jeong-won, falling in love. It was here where he first set eyes on Min Su-yeon, played by Song Hye-gyo. Jeong-won spent many times on the balcony of the 11th floor suite looking out over the cobalt ocean and thinking about his new love. At the Island Lounge, Jeong-won drinks with Su-yeon and realizes that she still has feelings for her first love. She drinks too much and Jeong-won ends up carrying Su-yeon on his back to the suite. Another scene in the drama takes place in the Dadami Room of the Japanese restaurant at the hotel. Here Jeong-won's father tries to set his son up with a wealthy businessman's daughter. Lotte Hotel
You can enjoy the beautiful Jeju scenery overlooking the Pacific and the romantic atmosphere of a Dutch windmill on a lakeside cliff. The windmill shows up frequently in important scenes in the drama. You will see the site where Su-yeon first meets In-ha at the Lobby Lounge, and Jeong-won and Su-yeon miss bumping into each other on the stairs of the lobby. Su-yeon gives a gift to In-ha at the bench in front of the windmill, and after In-ha is promoted, he looks over the beach from the observation platform there. There are now signposts with scenes and lines at each of these places. Jungmun Golf Course
Located at Jungmun Resort on the southern coast, this 18-hole course offers exotic southern coastal views. It is Korea's only seaside course, above seashore cliffs and a plunging valley. Jiseong played many rounds of golf here. Kim In-ha also had some scenes here after he returned from the United States and needed to refine himself into a proper young businessman. Scenes of his golf lessons were shot here.
One last drama before I stop. Summer Scent, which aired in 2003, is producer Yun Seok-Ho's third work, based on the four seasons. Following the tremendous popularity of his previous TV series Autumn in My Heart in 2000 and Winter Sonata in 2001, Summer Scent has the summer season as its backdrop. Summer Scent was filmed in verdant locations such as Boseong Tea Garden, Korea Botanical Garden, and Deogyusan National Park. Most beautiful between spring and summer, these filming locations are visited by many more tourists since the drama aired. Gardening is a passion for me and all those colorful flowers and scenery just turns me on. Hope you will enjoy the scenery. I also like Song Seung-Heon’s new hairstyle.
After their first meeting on the mountain, Min-Woo and Hye-Won meet again by chance. In a memorable scene, the two stroll through a green tea field. Boseong Tea Garden is most popular for its expansive green tea fields and for the walking path lined with cedar trees reaching 20 meters high. Don’t forget to taste Ujeoncha at the cost of only 1,000 won at the tea shop. Ujeoncha is the best quality tea in Korea, made of baby leaves picked before April 20.
Korea Botanical Garden, which, in the drama, served as the house of Min-Woo’s mother, grows about 1,300 species of wild Korean plants. In a lovely scene, Hye-Won, who loves flowers, walks through the fields of blossoms. Korea Botanical Garden gives out flower seeds to all visitors who buy an admission ticket. Various wild plants can also be purchased at the shop.
In Deogyusan National Park, Min-Woo and Hye-Won meet for the first time. In an impressive scene, Min-Woo rests on a huge, tree-shaded boulder with Deogyusan Mountain in the background. Deogyusan is well-known for its beautiful waterfalls and rivers that flow into the valleys.
At Muju Resort, Min-Woo, Hye-Won, and Jeong-Jae remodel the existing buildings into a nature-friendly rest area. In the drama, the resort serves as the team’s work area. In real life as well, the resort is unique, with beautiful buildings and a splendid natural environment that could very well be an illustration from a children’s storybook. Since the drama aired, even greater numbers of tourists visit the site.
Hope you’ve enjoyed visiting the filming locations I’ve picked for you. See you next time.
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